Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is calling for support from local communities to vote for former patient Simon Clark’s film in the Smiley Charity Film Awards.
Voting will help GWAAC raise awareness of the lifesaving work it does in the region and how its service, which is not government-funded, relies on the generosity of donors.
Your vote could open the doors to more donations for GWAAC which will help the charity continue to provide its vital service in the area. GWAAC needs to raise over £4 million each year to remain operational. And with 2024 on track to be a record year for the number of call-outs for the charity, together with increased operational costs, it’s more important than ever that the public supports GWAAC however they can.
Voting closes on 29 January 2025 and it’s so easy to vote. All you need to do is register with an email and password. Voting is completely free:
https://smileycharityfilmawards.com/films/because-of-them
GWAAC’s Specialist Paramedic in Critical Care, Pete Reeve describes Simon as, “one of the most broken people I’ve ever seen that has survived.” Following a serious road traffic collision in 2019 in Cirencester, Simon has gone from being told he would never walk again to trekking to Everest Base Camp in September this year. His film tells a powerful story about the day his life was changed forever, how GWAAC’s specialist crew saved his life, and how he has overcome adversity on his road to recovery.
Simon says, “I’m under no illusion… without the help of that team from Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, I would not be here today. They gave me a second chance and I owe it to them to make the most of it.”
The Charity Film Awards have been created to celebrate the success of film in fundraising, to increase exposure of charity films, and to encourage donations for good causes. It is the world’s largest cause-based film campaign.
The Smiley Movement inspires positive change in society by shining a spotlight on the people and organisations making a real difference in our world. Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, this non-profit community interest company champions the stories that uplift, empower and inspire.
About GWAAC
GWAAC provides the critical care and air ambulance service for 2.1 million people across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and parts of Wiltshire.
The GWAAC Critical Care Team consists of highly trained and experienced Critical Care Doctors, Advanced Practitioners and Specialist Paramedics in Critical Care, who bring the skill and expertise of a hospital emergency department to the patient.
In the first half of 2024 GWAAC was called to help 1,159 people in urgent need. The Critical Care Team is needed by an average of six patients a day and rushes to treat them by helicopter or critical care car. On average each mission costs around £2,200 to attend.
The charity needs to raise over £4 million a year in order to remain operational yet receives no day-to-day funding from the Government or National Lottery.
